VET FEE-HELP applications are now open for Semester 1, 2015. If you would like further information please submit a query via the Contact Us form.

What is VET FEE-HELP?

VET FEE-HELP is an income-contingent loan scheme that assists eligible students to pay for all or part of their Vocational Education and Training (VET) tuition fees when studying one or more eligible VET courses. TAFE SA is an approved VET provider under the VET FEE-HELP Assistance Scheme.

VET FEE-HELP cannot be used for a higher education course, such as a bachelor degree. If you are studying a higher education course, and want information about Australian Government assistance, visit the FEE-HELP page.

Information regarding VET FEE-HELP is available at the Study Assist website. Refer to the Study Assist website for information about Australian Government assistance available to help students finance their tertiary study - including assistance available in the VET sector.

Am I eligible?

VET FEE-HELP assists with the payment of tuition fees for students enrolled with an approved VET provider in one of the following course types:

diploma

advanced diploma

vocational graduate certificate

vocational graduate diploma

VET FEE-HELP is not available for certificate I - IV level courses.

In addition, to be eligible for VET FEE-HELP, you must be an Australian citizen or holder of a permanent humanitarian visa.See the Am I eligible for VET FEE-HELP? section of the Study Assist website for full eligibility criteria.

VET FEE-HELP is not available for Certificate I - IV level courses, however from 13 January 2014, TAFE SA is participating in the Trial to Extend the Availability of VET FEE-HELP for specific Certificate IV qualifications delivered by selected Training Providers. TAFE SA has been selected to offer places in three qualifications but only to new and continuing students who are subsidised under Skills for All.

Full Fee Paying students are not eligible to participate in this trial.

What does VET FEE-HELP cover?

VET FEE-HELP covers tuition fees only. It does not cover text books, materials, equipment, travel, accommodation or general living expenses, or any additional costs identified as incidental fees.

This is explained in more detail in the VET FEE HELP booklet, available to download in PDF format on the Publications page of the Study Assist website.

VET FEE-HELP covers units within diploma, advanced diploma, vocational graduate certificate or vocational graduate diploma-level courses only. If you are also studying units within a certificate level course, these units will not be covered by VET FEE-HELP. If you are not sure which units are covered by VET FEE-HELP, you can submit a query via the Contact Us form.

VET FEE-HELP only covers units that you are enrolled in by the census date. Please ensure that you are enrolled in all the units you wish to be covered by the census date.

Follow the instructions on each screen and provide all required information.

If you are receiving Skills for All (S4A) funding for your course or you are a concession student, when completing question 8 in the form you must select “I am a subsidised student in a State or Territory that has implemented subsidised VET FEE-HELP arrangements”, as shown in the example below.

ONLY select “I am full fee-paying student” if you are NOT receiving S4A funding or concession. If you select the wrong option, you will need to resubmit a corrected form. If you are not sure of your student status, please contact your campus.

Submit the Request for VET FEE-HELP form.

Print a copy of the Receipt of Request for Commonwealth Assistance screen as confirmation of your request.

Remember - you MUST submit your Request for VET FEE-HELP by the Census Date. Top of page

What is the Census Date?

The census date is the last date that you can submit an application for VET FEE-HELP assistance. It is also the last day you can enrol in units that you want to be covered by VET FEE-HELP. Your VET FEE-HELP debt is calculated based on the units of study you are enrolled in on census date.

What is a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)?

If you are approved for VET FEE-HELP assistance, you will be issued with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) within 28 days of the census date.

The CAN will include details of the units of study covered by VET FEE-HELP and the amount of VET FEE-HELP assistance that you will receive. You can view or download a sample CAN.

The CANs will be sent to your TAFE SA email account as a pdf file. They will also be displayed in your student account in Self-Service Banner (SSB).

If you believe that the information in your CAN is incorrect, you must, within 14 days of the CAN issue, submit a CAN review request via the Contact us form or by emailing vet.feehelp@tafesa.edu.au. You should include evidence showing why you think the CAN is incorrect.

When the VET FEE-HELP team receives the CAN review request, they will review the request and re-issue the CAN if they determine that the original CAN was incorrect.

Will I get a refund/re-credit if I withdraw?

If you have applied for a VET FEE-HELP loan, and if you withdraw from a course before or on the census date, you will not incur a VET FEE-HELP debt for the course you are withdrawing from and you will receive a full refund of any tuition fees that you have paid up-front.

If you withdraw from a course after the census date, you may still be eligible for a refund of up-front fees and/or re-credit of your FEE-HELP balance, if special circumstances apply. In this case, you will need to complete and submit an Application for Refund and Re-credit of FEE-HELP BALANCE form.